Welcome: The Ottawa Zone for Mathematics Education (O34ME)

On behalf of O34ME (The Ottawa Zone for Mathematics Education, Ottawa Chapter of OAME) Executive & Council, I'd like to start by introducing the members of the 2021/22 Executive. I am both privileged and honored to be working alongside such an enthusiastic, committed and dynamic group of educators serving Mathematics Educators in the Greater Ottawa Region.

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with each of our Executive members.

Yours in #mathedu,

​​Chris Stewart, OCT
O34ME 2019-22 President

Perspectives:
When students are inspired to share and discuss their thinking and reasoning, they become their own and others’ teachers! An educator's role is then to help guide their students to becoming better at this — the content students learn is a vehicle to serving conversations. How to engage in the process of learning is the core of all teaching and learning. 

This engagement requires that students develop and use a variety of skills as they are learning mathematics: Learning (p11), Transferable, Social-emotional, and Mathematical Process Skills. As a result, students develop their mathematical identity—i.e., understanding themselves as knowers, doers, and sense-makers of mathematics--and become empowered to use mathematics in ways that not only grow their achievement but that can be used to solve a variety of real-world problems (e.g., addressing matters of social injustice).  And none of this could be possible without the culture of care, respect for equity and inclusion, and professionalism we see in educators and systems of education.

Aspirations:

• Through classroom-, school-, and system-related work, I will be collaborating to create opportunities for educators and their students to experience the joy and wonder associated with learning mathematics — through culturally relevant and responsive teaching approaches that emphasize the human side of mathematics. I look forward to beginning this important work in the Fall of 2021 with the implementation of Ontario's new Grade 9 Mathematics course, MTH 1W.
• I'm curious as to how research intersects with pedagogical practice and have engaged in action-based research in the following areas: Professional Learning Communities, Student Voice, and Flipped Learning. Currently, I'm interested in exploring the impact of Thinking Classrooms, Culturally-Responsive & Relevant Pedagogy, Instructional Leadership, and Virtual Learning Environments on student learning.

What a great way to celebrate our year-end and begin setting conditions for next year!

Your 2021-22 Executive & Council

Thank you Council for your ongoing commitment to supporting our membership throughout the year. And thanks to our membership for their interest and participation in O34ME and OAME activities.

Please join me in welcoming Teresa Weselake (Renfrew County DSB Representative) and Fatima Assaf (Post-secondary Representative) to our team! We’re excited to be working with you both!

​We’d also like to recognize all those who are continuing in their roles, and those who are stepping into other roles—Lara Eager (Social Chair), Melissa Black (Ottawa Catholic SB Representative), and Suhana Kadoura (OAME Chapter Representative). At this time, we'd also like to congratulate two of our members who will be serving with the OAME Executive--Melissa Black (OAME Vice-president) and Jimmy Pai (OAME Director). Both Melissa and Jimmy will continue to serve O34ME as ex officio members of our Executive.

Join Us!

Note that some Teacher Representative positions remain to be filled. If you or someone you know are interested in finding out more about joining O34ME, please feel free to reach out to our Membership Coordinator.

Missed the AGM?

For your reflection, and if you were unable to join us for the AGM, you'll find everything you need.

• Slideshow presentation​

• Hear about our year-in-review and prospective activities.
  • See this year's President's Report.
  • ​​Review this year's Treasurer's Report.

We Want to Hear From You!

At O34ME, we endeavor to foster enthusiasm, innovation, and growth in Mathematics Education among teachers and their students. To better serve you--our Membership!--we want to better understand your professional learning needs moving forward.

We encourage you to complete the following survey. The results of the survey will then be used to shape educator supports, launching as early as the end of August, 2021.

Thank you so much for your participation in this survey, membership events, and ongoing support of teaching and learning of Mathematics in the Ottawa Zone.
​
Membership Survey

• ​To better understand your professional learning needs moving forward

Final Remarks

The Ottawa Zone for Mathematics Educators had a successful year thanks to our Executive and Council Members. As a result of their dedication to collaboration and commitment to leading with the Chapter’s Mission, Values and Objectives, we were able to build capacity within our Chapter for leadership in mathematics education. We also brought awareness to membership of our strategic priorities through ongoing communication and support for professional learning experiences.

Although we identify with this time of year as being our chapter’s year-end, the work continues. We will keep you all apprised of next steps regarding O34ME-related professional learning for the coming year.

In closing, it has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to have served again as Chair, working alongside such a focused, creative, open and collaborative group of professionals.

All the best,

Chris Stewart, OCT 
2019-22 O34ME President 

President’s Report - 2019/20 Chapter Activities
The Ottawa Zone for Mathematics Educators (O34ME) had a successful year thanks to our Executive and Council Members. As a result of their dedication to collaboration and commitment to leading with the Chapter’s Mission, Values and Objectives, we were able to build capacity within our Chapter for leadership in mathematics education. We also brought awareness to membership of our strategic priorities through ongoing communication and support for professional learning experiences.

Mission: Fostering enthusiasm, innovation, and growth in mathematics education.

Vision: We value making teaching and learning mathematics accessible for all.

​Strategic Priorities:

• To promote meaningful and actionable reflections on practice
• To connect research with pedagogical practice
• To establish and enhance mathematical learning networks in the Greater Ottawa Region

We recognize, as a Chapter, that the 2019/20 school year was wrought with exceptional challenges (e.g., job action, COVID19)--circumstances atypical for most educational organizations to navigate with their membership. Despite the challenges faced, there is an opportunity for O34ME to redress its plans for supporting membership and explore new opportunities for growth in 2020/21. 

The information that follows in Tables 1 and 2 describes a year-in-review and prospective activities, respectively, as well as areas for growth--some of them taking into account any learning the Chapter has experienced under these exceptional circumstances.
​
In closing, it has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to have served as this year’s chair, working alongside such a focused, creative, open and collaborative group of professionals. 

Chris Stewart
2019/20 O34ME President

As mentioned in many of the “Next Steps” (Table 1, above), the following represent potential activities for O34ME Council and Membership in 2020/21.